Automatically-operating shutter opening and closing mechanism for furnace oxidators



Nov. 9 1926. 1,606,313

' J. J. A. MILLER AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING SHUTTER OPENING AND CLOSING MECHANISII POR FURNACE OXIDATORS v Original Filed OCT.. 9. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l J J 1,606,373 'n OPENING AND cLosING uBcHANIsN Fon No'v. 9, 1926.

A. MILLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 AUTOMATI CALLY OPERATI NG SHUTTE g# 9. alunne.

NG MECHANI su Fon Nov. 9 1926.

J. J. A. MILLER HUTTER OPENING AND cLsI FURNACE oXIDAToRs Original Filed @Gtq 9. 1922l AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING S I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nev. 9, 1926.

narran stares recaen enfant arriba.

JOHN J. A. MILLER, 0F DENVER, COLOR-ADO, ASSlGi-NOR TO THE AUTOMATC FURNACE OXIDATOR AND MANUFACTURING COMEANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORA- TON OF COLORADO.

AUTOMATICALLY-OPERATING SHUTTEB OPENING .ND CLQSING MECHANSM FOR FURNACE OXIDATORS.

Application led October 9, 1922, Serial No. 593,474. Renewed March 31, 1926.

My invention relates to improvements in automatically operating shutter opening and closing mechanism for furnace oxidators.

The object of the invention is to provide a emitter-controlled air heating device for furnace doors, and mechanism for opera-ting said shutters, whereby, When the door is closed after coaling, the shutters are automatically opened to permit the passage of air through said heater and into the furnace, means being cooperatively connect'- ed with the shutter operating mechanism for gradually closing said shutters Within a predetermined period.

Further, to provide a pre-heater for furnace doors, shutters for controlling the entrance to said pre-heater, and mechanism for automatically opening said shutters simultaneously with the closing of the furnace deer, whereby air is permitted to pass through said pre-heater and into the furnace above the coal bed, the closing of said shutters within a predetermined period being determined by a combined gravity and spring-operated oil valve Which is also lifted by said shutter opening mechanism simultaneously with the opening of said shutters.

Further, to provide in connection with the shutter opening mechanism of oxidators or smoke abating attachments of this char acter, a combined gravity and spring operated oil valve comprising a valved piston which is raised in an oil cylinder by said shutter opening mechanism simultaneously with the opening ofthe shutters, the length of time required for the descent of said piston, and consequently for the closing of said shutters. being determined by the adjustment of the valve in said piston whereby a regulated supply of heated air is admitted to the combustion chamberA of the furnace for a predetermined period after the coaling operation, the said air being discharged over the coal bed by Which it is mixed With the combustible gases and floating particles of carbon and tar, thus causing complete combustion of these particles and the consequent elimination of the unconsumed product, or smoke.

Thiese objects are accomplished by the vmechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: i

Fig. 1 is a front vievv of a furnace door equipped with the improvedr oxidator or smoke abating device.

Fig. 2 is a top vievv of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, showing the parts of the operating` mechanism in the posi-4 Fig. 6 is a plan View of the! mechanism` housing, the cover thereof being removed, and the parts being in the same position indicated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a front vieu7 of the air heating device or pre-heater Which is bolted to the inside of the furnace door. i Fig, 8 is a sectional vieiv on the line 8-8 of Fig. l, the shutters being closed, and a portion only of the pre-heater being shown.

' And accomplished only by the complete combus` tion in the furnace of the floating particles of tar and carbon. i To bring about this result, air in quantities, suiicient for the complete oxidation of all combustible matter, should be admitted to the furnace, over the lire. immediately after coaling, and thoroughly mixed with the combustible gases and floating particles of carbon and tar, and this quantity of air should be gradually reduced as the distillation of the vola? tile' combustibles nears completion. The improved device, Which isadapted to be attaelied to a furnace door, meets these re-v qnirements jby means of' a combinatien fof of the shaft which lies within the chamber 25, carries a larger segment gear 45, which meshes with the rack bar 30, thereby to raise the piston 28, as will be fully set forth hereinafter. The circular rack bar will alwaysremain in ine-sh with the segment gear 43, irrespective of the axial turning moveuientsof the piston 28, in its cylinder 2?. The small segment 44, is operated to turn the shaft 16, in the following manner:

A knob 46, has a reduced threaded portion 4'?, which is screwed into an aperture in the front wall of the housingl', centrally of the lower portion of the chamber 24, and the threaded portion 47,. has a short axial reduced portion 48, which projects into the chamber 24. An-axial threaded hub or boss 49, is formed on the front of the knob and an axial hole 50, extends through the knob from end to end, the inner end of the hole terminating in a flared enlargement 5l, in the end of the reduced portion 46, of the knob. The boss 49, is provided with a hreaded cap 52.

A piecey of tubing is slidably mounted in the hole 56, of the knob, and a. coil spring1 54, Vis interposed between the outer end'of this tube and the cap 52. VEhe inner end of the tube projects through a hole in the back of the` housing 17. and through a hole or recess 55, in the adjacent edge of the door 2,-. and when the door is opened, the tube is `)rejected about an inch beyond the inner face of the door .by the spring 54, and when the door isclosed, the inner end of the tube engages the front wall of the furnace, and slides the tube back against the action of the spring- 54, for a purpose to be later eX- plained.

A slide 56, in the form of a cylindrical bloc-k having,` an axial hole 57, and a series of annular teeth 5S, which mesh with the segment rear '44, is mounted on the tube 53, between the back wall of the housing' and the projecting; portion 46, of the knob` and an internal annular groove 59, is formed in the wall of thel axial hole in the slide, the front shoulder of said ,groove being slightly beveled or undercut as shown. A. coil spring` X. surrounds the 'forward end of the slide and also the projecting` portion 48, of the knob and is held under con'ipression between the front tooth of the slide and the end of the threaoeal portion 4T, of the lrrob, rllh'e fun i this spring' is to assist in rnoif'ingg the slide rearward on the tube, until it enragesv the rear wall of the housing 17, after the said slide has been moved forward onv the tube in a inanner, and for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. A slot 60, is cut through the wall ofthe tube, and entends the gri-eater part of the length of the tube, and a latch 6l, of slightly less length than the length of the` slot 60, is inserted through the slot and into the tube and the outer end Intermediate of its length the latch is widcned and its upper edge is formed with a short incline 63, where-the wide portion of the latch merges into the narrow forward portion thereof. Rear of theincline 63y the upper edge of the latch is formed with o. recess 64, of suitable length, andthe rear shoulder 65, of this recess forms a catch which is aoapted to engage the undercut shoulder' of the annular groove 59, in the slide 56, when the furnace door is opened, as will later appear. An expansion coil spring 66, is interposed between thel under edge of the rear end of the latch,` and the wall of the tube, for the purpose of forcing the free end of the latch outward.

A bolt 67, is screwedinto the rear end of the tube 53, and one or more washers 66, may be interposed between the head of the. bolt and the end of the tube, thus providing for slight variations in the inward sliding movement of the tubeywhen the furnace door is closed.

In operation, the cylinder 27, is filled with' a. suitable oil which may also extend to within slight distance of the top of the partition 26, and, assuming that the piston is at the limit of its downward stroke, the segment gear 45, will be in. the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6, while the segment gear 44, will be in the position shown in dott-ed lines in Fig. 4, and in full lines in Fig. 6, and the slide block 56, will be at the limit of its rearward position, or in contact with the rear wall of the housing` as shown in Fig.` 5. Thev tube 53, is in the position shown in Fig. 3, and the latch 6l, has been forced back to vlie entirely wit-hinV the tube this latch is pivoted to the tube by a pin by the engagement of4 its incline 63. irst with the flared end 5l, of the hole 50, in the knob, and then by the engagement of the upper edge of the wide partof the latch with the wall of the said hole 50, as clearly shown in lJij 3, which shows the position of theV parts at the instant the door is closed, and just as the valve begins tofdescend.

When the furnace door is opened for coaling, the spring 54 in the knob throws the tube out to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and the wide point of the latch passes out of the hole in the.` knob by Vwhich it was held inoperative within the tube,` but the rear end of the latch lies within the front end of the slide, which holds it against outward more Yment until the end portion ofthe latch is opposite the annular groove 59 when the spring 66, throws the latch out so that its rear'end portion enters the groove 59, and the catch 65, of the said latch engages the under cut shoulder of the said groove as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

kVifhen the door is closed, the head of the Vbolt 67 ,`l in the'end of the tube, engages the face of the `front wall ot the furnace, and the tube is thereby moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, carrying the slide with it until the incline .63, on the latch engages the flared end ot opening in thehnob, andy then passes into the opening, when the latch is thrown inward and out ot engagement with the said under cut shoulder ot the slide. As the slide is moved inward by the latch, the segment gear 44, is thereby turned to the position shown in Fig. 3, and, simultaneously, the segment a5, is also turned to the position shown in Fig. 8, thereby lifting the piston throughits connection with the circular rack bar 30, with which the said gear 45, meshes.

As the piston Vis lifted through the body ot' oil in the cylinder, the oil passes down through the top ot the piston and through the opening 34, in the partition 35, ot' the piston, movingl the disk valve 38, down against the action ot the spring 39; but when the piston reaches the limit ot its upward rmovement, the disk valve is thrown against the shoulder 37, ot the stem 33, by the spring 39, and the valve begins its kdescent through the oil in the cylinder, under the combined action of gravity, and the eX- pansive force of the spring X, which pushes the slide 56, rearward until it engages the rear wall of the housing, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

As the piston rises, the shutters l2, are swung open, and atmospheric air is drawn into the'furnace through the preheater, by which the saidV air is heated to a high degree ot temperature and passes over the coal bed, thoroughly mixing with the combustible gases andfloating particles of tar and carbon, thereby causingV complete combustion f in the furnace with the consequent elimination of smoke. The length of time required for the piston to descend, and the consequent gradual closing .of the shutters, is determined by the adjusment of the valve stem, by which the space between the disk valve 38, and the partition 85, is either increasedV or diminished, thus regulating the flow of oil through the piston.

Having described .my invention, what I claimy as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. in a device of the character described, the combination with a furnace door, having an'air heating device on the inner `side of the door., and shutters' 'for admitting air to the furnace through said heating device, of slidable means operated by the closing of the door, a member slidably mounted on saidslidable means, and gearing operated by said slidable member tor automatically opening said shutters, and a oil-controlled gravity actuated mechanism for closing lsaid shutters. t

2.111 a device of Vthe character described,

moar-irc the combination with a- 'furnace door, of an air heating device on the inner face of said door, shutters tor admitting-air to the turnace through said heating device, a spring controiled slidale member which is projected when the door is opened and retracted by the closing ot the door, a toothed member slidable on the spring controlled slidable member, gearing operated by the toothed member tor opening said shutters simultaneously with the closing of the door, and an oil controlled grav-ity actuated mechanism tor closing said shutters.

3. In a` device ot the character described, the combination with a furnace door, ot an air heating device on the inner face ot the door, shutters tor admitting air to the turnace through said air heating device, a spring-projected slidable member which is released by the opening of the door, and retracted by the closing of the door, a toothed member movable-with the vslidable member when the same is retracted, gearing operated by the toothed member for opening the shutters simultaneously with the closing ot the door, means to disconnect the toothed member from the spring projected member,

Vwhen the latter is at the .limit ot its retracted movement, and an oil controlled gravity actuated mechanism for closing said shutters.

4. ln a device ot the character described, the combination with a furnace, ot an air heating device on the inner tace of said door, shutters for admittingair to the turnace through said air heating device, a spring-projected slide which is released by the opening of the door and retracted by the closing of the door, a toothed block mounted on antl movable' with said slide when the same is retracted, gearing operated by the tootl ed block tor opening said shutters simultaneously with' the closing ot the door, a latch tor connecting the toothed block to the slide when the latter is retracted, means Vfor disconnecting the latch from the toothed block when the slide reaches the limit ot its retracted movement, and means movable with the gearing for gradually closing said shutters within a predetermined period.

5. lfn a device of the character described, the combination with a furnace door, of an air heating device on the inner tace et the door, shutters for admitting air tothe turnace through' said air heating device, a

spring-projected bar which is released by the opening of the door and retracted by the closing ot the door, a. circular toothed block slidablv mounted Von said bar, and means tor locking the block to the bar when the bar is retracted, a shaft connected with the shutters, and a gear on said shaft operated by the toothed block to open the shutters as the door is closed, meansftor releasing the toothed block when the bar is retracted e Gli to the limit of its movement, and means movable with the gearing for reversing the toothed block and-for gradually closing the shutters within a predetermined period. Y

(3. in a device of the character described, the combination with a furnace door, of an air heating device on the inner face of said door, shutters for admitting air to the furnace through said heating` de vice, a springprojected bar which is released by the opening of the door and retracted by the closing of thc door, a circular toothed block which is slidably mounted on said bar, a latch carried by the bar for engaging and moving the block with the bar, when the same is retracted, a shaft connected with said shutters, and a gear on the shaft operated by the block to open said shutters as the door is closed, means for throwing the latch to release the block when the bar is retracted to the limit of its movement, and gravity means for reversing the shaft whereby the toothed bloeit is reversed and the shutters A are closed within a predetermined period.

'7. ln av device of the character described, the combination with a furnace door, of an air heater on the inner face of the door, shutters connected to swing in unison for admitting air to tlie'furnace through said heater, a bar mounted on the door, a spring for projecting said bar when the door is opened, said bar being retracted by engagement with the furnace wall when the door is closed, a circular toothed block slidably mounted on the bar, a latch pivotally mounted in the bar for engaging and moving' the toothed block with the bar when the same is retracted, a shaft connectedv to one of said shutters and a gear on said shaft in mesh with the toothed block whereby the shaft is turned to open the shutters when the door is closed, means for tripping the latch to release the block when the bar is retracted to the limit of its movement, an oil controlled gravity actuated valved piston, having a toothed rod and a gear on said shaft. in mesh with said rod, whereby the piston is raised simultaneously with the opening of the shutters while its descent effects the closing of the shutters and a reverse movement of the toothed block.

S. ln a device of the character described. the combination with a furnace door, of an air heater on the inner face of the door, shutters mounted on the door and connected to swing in unison, for admitting air into the furnace through said heater, a housing on the door having a depending oil holding cylinder, a shaft mounted in the housing and connected to the axis of one of said shutters, a bar slidably mounted in said housing, one end of which bears against the front wall of the furnace when the door is closed, and a spring for projecting saidv bar when the door is opened, a slidev on said bar ha 7ing annular teeth, a gear'on saidshaft in mesh with said teeth, a valved piston in said cylinder having a toothed rod, a gear on the shaft in mesh with the toothed rod, and a spring-actulatch in said bar for engaging said toothed s"de when the door is opened and the bar projected, whereby when the door is closed the bar with the latch is moved inward thereby turning the shaft to open the shutters and raise the piston; an abutment for tripping the latch when the door is fully closed to release the slides, the descent of the piston-'causing a reverse rotation of the shaft whereby the shutters are gradually closed andthe slide restored to its normal position.

9, In a device of the character described,

the combination with a furnace door, of a housing thereon having a depending oil holdingcylinder, and a knob having an aX- ial bore which is closed at its outer end, a tubular bar slidably mounted in said bore Vland extending 'through the housing and door, its front end normally bearing against the furnace wall, a spring interposed be@ tween therear end of said bar andthe closed end of said bore to project said bar when the doorisr opened, a slide mounted on said bar having annular teeth and in normal engagement with the back wallof the housing, said slide having an internal annular recess, a shaft mounted in the housing and extending beyond one side of the same, a gear on said shaft in mesh with said toothed slide, a piston in said cylinder having an adjustable valve and a toothed rod, a gear on the shaft in mesh with the toothed rod, an air heater on the inner side of the door, shutters on the door connected to swing in unison and adapted to admit air to the furnace' through said heater, the extended end of said shaft being connected to the axial portion of one of said shutters, a spring actuated latch in said tubular bar which is adapted to engage one end of the annular recess in the said slide when the tubular bar is projected, whereby when the door is closed the bar with the latch is moved inward thereby turning the shaft to open the shutters and rai-se the piston, said latch having a portion which is engaged by the w-all of the bore of the knob as the bar slides into the knob, whereby the latch is tripped to release the slide, permitting the valve to descend by gravity to close the shutters and restore the slide to its normal position.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a furnace door, an air heater thereon and shutters for admitting air to said furnace through said heater, of a slide bar moved in one direction by the closing of the door, a slide thereon, means for locking the slide to the bar and means operated by the slide for opening the shut- Cil llU

iisV

ters Simultaneously With t-he closing of the door, means forvreleasing the slide When-the door is fully closed, gravity means for reversing the movement of the slide and atthe same time gradually closing the shutters, and a spring for projecting the slide bar beyond the inner face ofthe door` when the door is opened.

ll. In a device of the character described, the combination with` a furnace door, an air heater thereon and shutters for admitting airinto the furnace` through said heater. of: a slide bar moved in one direction by the closing of the door, a slide thereon, a latch for locking the slide to the bar, and means operated by the slide for` opening the shutters simultaneously with the closingV off the door, `means forv releasing thelateh when the doorV isl fully closed, gravity means and a spring for` reversing the movement of the slide and at the same time gradually clos-K ing the shuttersand aspring for, proj ect-ing,

the bolt when the door is opened.

12. Thecombination with a furnace door,A

shutters thereon adapted to turn in unison, a housing on, the door, at shaft mounted in said` housing and secured at4 oneend to the axial portion of one of theA 'shutters7 of a knob threaded` into said housing having an axial bore, a threadedboss surrounding'` the.

outer end of the boreanda cap on said bjoss, l

the inner end of thefbore being flared, a tubuend of` the bar and the said cap to project the bar beyond the face ot the door when the door is opened, a slide mounted on the bar having'- annular teeth, and an internal a-nnular groove, a springactuatedlatch in said Vbar having a catch t-o engage a shoulder of the annularl groove when the bar is projected, and an inclined-portionfor engaging the flared end` of the bore and then the bore, to trip the latch and releasethe slide when the bar` is slid inward by the closing of the door, a gear onlthe shaft in` mesh with the toothedslide, an oil controlled? valved piston having a toothedrod, agear ont-he shaftz in mesh with the toothed rod, spring in-y terposedbetween the end of the slide and the knob, said shaft being turned to openv the shutters and raise the piston-When the door is closed and said shutters being closed by combined spring action and the descending piston.

In testimony whereof I; affix my signature.

JOHN J. A. MILLER; 

